Method and appratus for reading and writing indicia such as bar codes using a scanned laser beam
First Claim
1. A system for reading and writing bar code symbols on a medium, the bar code symbols comprising bar and space elements of varying width along a scan direction, the system comprising:
- a light source for producing a light beam;
reading means coupled to said light source for directing said light beam at said medium so as to scan along the scan direction a first bar code symbol disposed on a first portion of said medium, detecting at least a portion of a light of variable intensity reflected off the first bar code symbol, and generating an electrical signal indicative of a detected light intensity;
writing means coupled to said light source for directing said light beam at said medium in a pattern on a second portion of said medium so as to write a second bar code symbol on said medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for reading and writing indicia on a medium including a light source for producing a light beam; a reading element for directing the light beam at the medium so as to scan indicia disposed on a first portion of said medium, detecting at least a portion of the light of variable intensity reflected off the indicia, and generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity; and a writing element for directing the light beam at the medium in a pattern on a second portion of the medium so as record information on the medium. The light beam is preferably a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser, and a mirror is used to scan the beam both for reading and writing.
40 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for reading and writing bar code symbols on a medium, the bar code symbols comprising bar and space elements of varying width along a scan direction, the system comprising:
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a light source for producing a light beam; reading means coupled to said light source for directing said light beam at said medium so as to scan along the scan direction a first bar code symbol disposed on a first portion of said medium, detecting at least a portion of a light of variable intensity reflected off the first bar code symbol, and generating an electrical signal indicative of a detected light intensity; writing means coupled to said light source for directing said light beam at said medium in a pattern on a second portion of said medium so as to write a second bar code symbol on said medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for reading and writing bar code symbols, the bar code symbols comprising bar and space elements of varying width along a scan direction, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a light source for emitting a light beam; (b) an optical component disposed in the path of said beam for directing the light beam along an optical path toward a target located in a vicinity of a reference plane lying generally normal to the optical path so as to scan in the scan direction spatially adjacent portions of said reference plane, to thereby scan a first bar code symbol; (c) control means for operating said light source in a writing mode so as to direct light to portions of said target where a second bar code symbol is to be written; (d) sensor means disposed in a path of light reflected off the target and operative in a reading mode for detecting a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off the first bar code symbol on the target, and generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity.
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11. A method for reading and writing bar code symbols on a medium, the bar code symbols comprising bar and space elements of varying width along a scan direction, the method comprising:
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producing a light beam; directing said light beam at said medium so as to illuminate a first portion of said medium, detecting at least a portion of light of variable intensity reflected off a first bar code symbol, and generating an electrical signal indicative of a detected light intensity; and directing said light beam at said medium in a pattern on a second portion of said medium so as to record a second bar code symbol on said medium. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification